Baseball Alumnus Jerry Hairston Jr. Signs with Dodgers
12/06/2011 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Dec. 6, 2011
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois baseball alumnus Jerry Hairston Jr. has signed a two-year deal worth a reported $6 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 14-year major league veteran hit a combined .270 for the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers in 2011.
The 35-year-old former Saluki showed his worth in October this year, starting 11 postseason games for the Brewers and hitting .385 with six doubles in their run to the National League Championship Series. Hairston has started at every infield and outfield position in his career.
"Jerry has had an outstanding career and certainly proved his value during this year's postseason," SIU Head Coach Ken Henderson said. "He has been a very loyal Saluki and we are proud of him and his accomplishments."
While at SIU, Hairston was voted Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 1996 and selected to the MVC All-Tournament team in 1996 and 1997. In January of 2009 he was inducted into the Saluki Hall of Fame.